The striker copped a 77th-minute second booking for diving and Alloa clawed an unlikely draw at the death.

Roberts, who was sent to the stands for booting a water bottle in frustration, was left raging after seeing his side squander a 2-0 advantage.

He said: “It’s like a kick in the b***s. I cannot believe we did not win.

“The ref says Liam got his first booking for leaving his foot in – but that’s absolute rubbish. And for his second yellow, Liam was just trying to dive out of the way.

“I’m just so angry. To not win that game after being 2-0 up is frightening.

“The positives are there but it feels like a defeat. I got sent to the stand for the referee not doing his job right.

“The ref might think he did his job. I don’t. We could have won that game. I’m a passionate guy who always wants to win.”

Wasps made the early running and Kevin Cawley swung a tempting cross into the box from the left that was met by Jason Marr – but the central defender’s header flew over the top.

Next Cawley could not have gone closer as Ayr keeper Ally Brown got a hand to his shot and touched it on to the bar.

Ten minutes before the break Ayr stunned the home side by taking the lead against the run of play when new recruit Buchanan fired past Scott Bain from 10 yards.

It was a blow for Alloa who were left to rue their missed chances.

United brought on former Drumchapel United amateur player Eddie Ferns after the break for on-loan Rangers striker Calum Gallacher.

He had a chance soon after but could only bundle the ball into the arms of Bain.

It was a frustrating afternoon for Alloa who pressed forward with renewed determination – but it got worse for them in 57 minutes.

Neil MacGregor leapt above the home defence to head in a perfect Michael Donald delivery.

Next Cawley picked out Ryan McCord on the left side of the box but his final effort went wide of Brown’s left post.

Alloa finally got right back in the match when Mitch Megginson finished off a slack pass back to hand his side a vital lifeline.

And the home fans’ hopes were raised again in the 77th minute when Buchanan got his marching orders.

The former Dunfermline and Partick star went from hero to villain when he received a second yellow for diving in the box.

It was all too much for Somerset Park boss Roberts who quickly followed him off the pitch, ordered to the stand for kicking a water bottle.

With the minutes ticking away Alloa sub Martin Grehan missed the chance to be a hero when he headed the ball wide form just a few yards out.

But Ben Gordon’s looping 90th minute header earned Alloa a share of the spoils – much to the relief of Wasps manager Paul Hartley.

The young gaffer said: “We were very poor out there and could not get going. But having been 2-0 down, I will take a point considering the way we played.

“I am happy with the point but not the performance.”

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Queen of the South 2 Stenhousemuir 1

STENHOUSEMUIR boss Martyn Corrigan bemoaned his team’s poor luck after leaving with nothing – despite dominating the league leaders on their own patch.

There’s a massive 34-point gap between the teams but Stenny should have taken at least a point.

Derek Young opened the scoring for Queens and Chris Mitchell made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time but Mark Corcoran pulled one back in the 47th minute and the home side were under the cosh for the rest of the match.

Corrigan said: “I thought we had the better of both halves and we put them under a lot of pressure.

“But we switched off for both of their goals. It has been the story of our season. We’ve been the far better team in a lot of our games but we just haven’t got the rewards.”

Stenny had an opportunity inside three minutes when John Gemmell found space in the box but scooped over the bar.

But Queens took the lead after 33 minutes when Mitchell crossed from the right and Young stabbed a volley home with his left foot.

Then a minute before the break Mitchell fired a 20-yard free-kick straight into the net.

Stenny pulled one back early in the second half when Chris Higgins was robbed by Corcoran who smashed the ball into the roof of the goal.